The growth of a small business can come from the result of well-crafted planning – or sometimes by happenstance. Norma Ozuna and her husband Eddie, with years of experience in working for corporate restaurant chains, made the move in 2021 to open their own business along Expressway 83 in Mercedes. O’s Burgers & More is located adjacent to the emerging Shops At Mercedes. The latter is a 250,000-square-foot retailing development…
The story of Victor and Lori Arteaga is a tale of two countries. It is a tale rooted in family, tradition, food and culture. Both were born in Mexico City and moved to McAllen as pre-teens, though they did not meet until years later. At the age of 11, Victor and his family moved to McAllen, where his mother’s sister lived. “I didn’t speak any English when I moved over…
The City of Brownsville made a $3 million-plus decision 10 years ago that it was going to invest in and revitalize its Market Square. It is the historic heart of Brownsville with its origins going back to the early 1850s when it opened as an open-air market. In the years that followed it would house city offices and later become a hub for its bus system. Market Square looked worn…
RSVPs are now open for the third annual RGV Startup Week, taking place April 24 through May 1. What began just two years ago has grown exponentially into one of the Rio Grande Valley’s largest entrepreneurship gatherings, drawing regional, state and national attention to the innovation happening locally. RGV Startup Week 2026 will once again bring together entrepreneurs, students, small business owners, investors and ecosystem partners from across the Valley…
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program has returned to South Texas College, offering free tax preparation services to qualifying residents across the Rio Grande Valley ahead of the April 15 filing deadline. VITA offices are available at both STC’s Pecan Campus and Mid-Valley Campus, concluding March 12 at Mid-Valley and March 14 at Pecan. Services at the Pecan Campus will be offered Monday through Thursday from noon to 4 p.m.…
The RGV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at its launch nearly 30 years ago had to overcome the perception that it was needed in a region full of similar-named organizations. Local chambers then and now are commonly found across the Rio Grande Valley. Why would a new chamber that was then known as the McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce be needed? “It was business owners in downtown McAllen who voiced the…
Four schools from McAllen ISD earned a spot among America’s Best Schools Honor Roll – a national platform for schools with strong academic achievement. The list, created by the National Center for Urban School Transformation, includes James “Nikki” Rowe High, Brown Middle School, Seguin Elementary and Thigpen-Zavala Elementary. The 2026 America’s Best Schools Honor Roll recognizes “an exceptional group of schools whose applications demonstrate strong evidence of academic success for…
South Texas College Dual Credit Programs earned national recognition after being selected to participate in a research study conducted by the Community College Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University. The study examined how colleges can strategically invest limited resources to sustainably scale practices that provide students with more purposeful and impactful dual enrollment experiences. Based on its findings, the research team expressed admiration for STC’s dual credit model, highlighting…
In observance of American Heart Month and to help educate the community on the importance of heart-healthy behaviors like regular physical activity and a well-balanced diet, South Texas Health System Heart will host its 12th annual Heroes with Heart 5K Walk/Run on Feb. 28 on the STHS Heart campus in McAllen. Open to the community, this year’s 5K will honor Rio Grande Valley service industry professionals who have survived and…
Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, in collaboration with The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center, will host RGV Startup Week 2026 from April 24 through May 1, with events in Brownsville and partner cities across the Rio Grande Valley. In 2025, RGV Startup Week delivered 123 hours of activities and reached 403,172 unique accounts on social media. RGV Startup Week content generated 3.56 million views, and attendees…